As previously mentioned, adjusting the threshold, to hear those soft whispers of deep targets and also to accommodate people with hearing loss, allows the user to get very deep targets and/or tiny targets often missed by others. This ability to hear those soft whispers benefits those hunting for gold nuggets, especially tiny ones. It also allows relic hunters to search deep. Deep targets are generally older. Often times, all you hear are soft whispers or a change in audio using the audio threshold. Should you dig those targets? Absolutely! For this air test I had the threshold set at +2, where I could hear a constant background hum. Measuring the distance from where a audio signal begins to repeat itself is where I tracked the distances today. I performed the air tests today in my backyard, where I could run the AT Max at full sensitivity. And what a difference it did make.

The above pic shows the depth (in inches) for the shown targets. I was using the true all metal mode, with the iron audio turned off. It is by far the deepest mode, and should be used when searching for known deep targets and areas not too trashy. It is also the preferred mode searching for those tiny nuggets, easily missed by other metal detectors.

Here is an air test using the zero discriminate mode. Again, it was set up using a threshold set at +2, noting soft whispers or a change in audio using the audio threshold. These again were the measurements that were used. Although not as deep as the true all metal mode, it still maintains a very good depth. And don't forget, that the AT Series have some of the best tones to ID targets correctly.

Here is a histogram comparison graph showing the differences in depth. It's all a mater of how a user utilizes his metal detector. On the one hand, a user can metal detect, hear those obvious good target ID sounding items and cherry pick the easy ones. However, those looking for those rare, well sought after targets will take advantage of the new Garrett AT Max's ability to sniff those extremely deep targets, often times missed by others.

Below is a pic of my air test target set up to pull out those numbers today. Remember, the air tests show a targets maximum potential. Depths will very from location to location. If a target has been in the ground for a very long time, part of it's surface may have broken down, leaching into the soil around it. The detector coil may read this as a larger target, allowing it to penetrate even deeper. To maintain a high level of reliability, I wore no watch, rings, belt and emptied my pockets. All targets were observed several times to make sure that the most accuracy was maintained for measuring repeatable audio at proper depth.

Amazing depths even in Zero Disc Mode! Thank you for dedicating time to create this report - Jim

Fear is paralyzing and courage is liberating. No matter what is put in front of you, there is always a way to make it work.

Dreams are just dreams, goals are dreams with deadlines. The desire to succeed comes from within. Stay focused on your goals, and if people say that you can’t do something, get them out of your life and move on.

Are you saying that in your air testing just by raising the sensitivity one notch from 7/8 to 8/8 and raising the threshold two notches from 0 to +2, that you are getting a 6" all metal increase on a mercury dime and a 3 1/2" increase in zero discrimination mode?

First tests were about VDI numbers and audio tones with a lower sensitivity. When I did my second set of tests/video, it was about true all metal mode, running hot at full sensitivity, adding threshold and measuring distances where you actual got the audio tone breaking. so, yes, answering your question, I did get those extra depths. It's all about how you utilize those tones. Cherry picking with the obvious tones, vs. digging targets with a tone break. You still get a VDI reading in true all metal mode. You still have the choice to flip over to disc mode and or add iron audio to further investigate the target. Based on something deep in the matrix having conductivity properties, probably being old, due to it's depth, it's up to the detectorist whether or not to dig it.

Everyone has different hunting styles. Everyone has different target likes. The new AT Max appears to be a combination of best features from the AT Pro/AT Gold, tweaked for added depth, hot on gold with wireless headsets.

I've seen extremely deep repeatable tones coming from a CZ-21 that I now own , but it was not giving an accurate tone for the gold ring it was hitting .....I doubt seriously if ANY detector can hit a Merc dime at 17 inches and give off an accurate VDI number .... I've had great luck and really like my AT Pro ......I've had a ball with it .... I'm sure that the Max will be a great machine also ....Jim

I saw a video where the three A T's where detecting various depth targets (in the ground) and the Max gave a "dig me" signal on a 10 1/2" deep quarter. Much deeper, though, and the quarter would be a doubtful signal in that particular ground. Still respectful, but no way would the Max, or the other two A T's, give a "dig me" signal on a 10 1/2" deep dime. The coil was the stock 11". HH jim tn

Your thought was also the thought that I had. If the AT Max provides an accurate VDI # at 17 inches (on a dime) detecting won't be fun anymore. Unless the machine could identify it as a pristine 1916D mercury I mean a whisper of a signal at 17" on a dime in all-metal with no accurate VDI? Its impressive! However, I would not even take the time to see what it is. To me there is a cut-off on depth. To me, 10" on a dime with accurate VDI is deep enough on turf. IF I am someplace like the beach, then it is gloves off Like you Jim, I have had a ball with my AT Pro as well. Now, I am just waiting for the delivery truck to arrive

Quotesynthnut
I've seen extremely deep repeatable tones coming from a CZ-21 that I now own , but it was not giving an accurate tone for the gold ring it was hitting .....I doubt seriously if ANY detector can hit a Merc dime at 17 inches and give off an accurate VDI number .... I've had great luck and really like my AT Pro ......I've had a ball with it .... I'm sure that the Max will be a great machine also ....Jim

Fear is paralyzing and courage is liberating. No matter what is put in front of you, there is always a way to make it work.

Dreams are just dreams, goals are dreams with deadlines. The desire to succeed comes from within. Stay focused on your goals, and if people say that you can’t do something, get them out of your life and move on.

It looks like the Max has upped the gain from the Pro/Gold and that's a positive development. The important thing for me in all metal mode would be depth with a serviceable VDI, so I'd find it much more illuminating to see that number.

John, hopefully you'll also do an air test video for the discrimination mode with the sens and thresh cranked like you did in all metal.

When the targets start getting into the deep fringe area, where the tone(s) are questionable, you will never get an accurate VDI number on any of the Garretts. Probably the same for all machines. Most people doe not dig those signals. That's fringe area is the place where a lot of the surprises show up.